India, UK unveil Science and Technology Partnership Dashboard to strengthen bilateral collaboration

In a major step towards deepening scientific and technological cooperation, India and the United Kingdom on Tuesday launched the pilot version of the India–United Kingdom Science and Technology Partnership (IN-UK-STP) Dashboard at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

The dashboard was jointly unveiled by Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India, and Dr. David Warren Smith, National Technology Adviser to the United Kingdom, during a bilateral meeting attended by senior officials from both countries’ science and technology departments.

Jointly developed by the Office of the PSA and the British High Commission in India, the IN-UK-STP Dashboard maps 143 bilateral projects supported since 2018. It captures data on funding value, implementing partners, and funding agencies from both nations, while also aligning projects with the India-UK Science and Innovation Council (SIC) goals, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and key areas of technology cooperation.

In her welcome remarks, Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary at the Office of PSA, described the initiative as a crucial evidence-based policy tool that strengthens the collaborative framework between the two nations.

Prof. Sood highlighted that the dashboard would complement initiatives like the India-UK Technology Security Initiative and the bilateral trade agreement, helping policymakers identify synergies, gaps, and strategic opportunities to maximise societal impact.

Dr. Smith, the UK’s National Technology Adviser, praised the comprehensive mapping of India-UK collaborations, noting that the insights from the dashboard would guide the recently announced India-UK Research and Innovation Corridor (RIC).

As a way forward, both sides agreed to enhance the dashboard with output and impact metrics such as publications, patents, startups, and human resource development, and to ensure timely data updates for real-time decision-making.

The IN-UK-STP Dashboard marks a significant milestone in the long-standing India-UK partnership, reinforcing the shared vision of advancing science, innovation, and sustainable development for mutual growth.